Greenpoint with Kids: 40 Things to Do for NYC Families

Less trendy and gentrified than neighboring Williamsburg or Queens' Long Island City, which lies just across the Newtown Creek, Greenpoint seems to hark back to another era. Visiting the neighborhood feels like taking a trip to the Old World due to its large Polish population. There are lots of homey restaurants along Nassau and Manhattan Avenues serving pierogies, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage. You'll also spy a smattering of newer boutiques, artisanal food outposts and other upscale businesses which reflect Greenpoint's recent evolution as more artists, hipsters and families push northward in Brooklyn.

Greenpoint also lives up to its name with a number of well-kept green spaces like Monsignor McGolrick Park, the recently opened Transmitter Park and the 35-acre McCarren Park, which spills over into Williamsburg. Local family organization Town Square also sponsors free monthly Greencycle Swaps, as well as a number of popular annual kids' events for Easter, Earth Day, Halloween and Christmas.

Throughout October, we'll be posting about the best things to do and places to go in Greenpoint for kids and families. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are the East River to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, North 14th Street to the Newtown Creek. While you can get there by taking the G subway to Nassau Avenue or Greenpoint Avenue, the East River Ferry docks at India Street and lets you wander the as yet mostly undeveloped industrial waterfront area. That's certain to change soon!